FROM THE DIRECTOR As we celebrate spring and the many related events, such as International Women’s Day, the Ides of March, Saint Patrick’s Day, April Fools Day, Earth Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, International Museum Day, Victoria Day, International Bike Week and World Fair Trade Day, the Kamloops Art Gallery has several special programs to add to the festivities. KAG’s 2010 spring exhibition TRUTH or FICTION? involves five artists from across the country whose work evokes uncertainty: Doug Buis (Knutsford/Kamloops), Rodney Graham (Vancouver), Kent Monkman (Toronto), Carol Sawyer (Vancouver) and Camille Turner (Toronto). Like the upcoming summer exhibition Stan Douglas: Klatsassin, TRUTH or FICTION? challenges conventional thinking about how history is recorded and by whom.

Moray Photography

For the past two years the Kamloops Art Gallery and Royal Inland Hospital have been working on a very special project assisted by the Canada Council Art Bank. We will soon install fourteen original contemporary works of art by well-known Canadian artists, such as Charles Gagnon, Gordon Smith, Joyce Wieland, Vera Frenkel and Yves Gaucher, throughout the hospital and cancer clinic. The Art in the Hospital Program will continue to seek donations of art to install each year, following in the footsteps of other such noteworthy collections as the Vancouver General Hospital’s art program. We are delighted with this community outreach program, which extends original art beyond our walls and makes being in the hospital a wee bit easier. Two great special events return this spring. Our 12th Annual Kamloops Wine Festival consists of nine consecutive days of events that culminate in the Consumer Tasting, which features over 100 wines to try, delectable snacks, cooking demonstrations, a silent auction and live music by Henry Small—once again!. There are three different seminars to educate you about the fine nuances of matching wines with cheeses and desserts, and also selecting some fabulous wines under $25. A very special seven-course dinner and wine-pairing takes place at Accolades, TRU, and there are restaurant wine events at Bistro 326, Embers at Executive Inn, Hoodoos at Sun Rivers and Tobiano. Don’t miss this very popular event and learn more about the art of wine. Our second fundraising event, the 4th Annual Home Tour: Architectural Spaces, takes place May 15. This is a great opportunity to tour a number of architecturally impressive and beautifully decorated homes. We are always on the lookout for those unique Kamloops properties to make this annual event a highlight of our spring program. Art, food, wine and great architecture—what a nice way to celebrate spring.   Jann LM Bailey Executive Director